Chapter 35

In the basket by the brazier, only two small pieces of charcoal remained, huddling together forlornly.

Cai Zhao pulled over a small stool and sat before the brazier to warm herself, idly tossing the bamboo plaques scattered on the floor into the fire to make the faint flames burn a little brighter.

Qi Yunke had his men inspect Room Heaven One again. Although it had clearly been deliberately cleaned and tidied, there were indeed no signs of a struggle. The floor tiles, wall bricks, tables, chairs, and bed frame showed no signs of being moved or replaced.

With no leads, Zeng Dalou had the disciples turn the entire Yuelai Inn upside down in their search.

Still, there was nothing.

Now, everyone couldn't help but wonder if Cai Pingchun had really left the inn on his own.

Qi Yunke coughed lightly, his brow furrowed. "Could it be that Pingchun truly encountered some extremely urgent matter that forced him to leave immediately? Otherwise, with Xiao Chun's skills, no one could have taken him without a fight."

Cai Zhao seemed to hear nothing, spreading her ten fingers and lowering her head to warm them by the fire.

As dawn broke, the group, having found nothing, had no choice but to return.

Before getting up, Cai Zhao happened to have burned the last bamboo plaque. The flames gradually weakened, and a chill crept into the room.

On the way back, Cai Zhao noticed many new faces in their ranks. She had even seen a few of them in town the day before.

They walked in unison with long, steady breaths, their expressions silent and alert, like gray sand seeping in slowly, unnoticed.

“Who are these people?” Cai Zhao asked.

Fan Xingjia replied in a low voice, "Actually, I don’t know them either—a few days ago, Master said the Demonic Cult has been making frequent moves lately with great ambitions. I'm afraid the Jianghu is about to become turbulent. So he ordered Eldest Martial Brother to take his token and summon some helpers to the mountain, and he also told me to quickly tidy up the guest courtyard."

“Helpers?” Cai Zhao was skeptical. “Are they all sect disciples?”

Fan Xingjia first said he didn't know, then leaned in and whispered, "But I don't think so. I've seen what the inner and outer sect disciples look like. These people are gloomy, they barely say a word. Just looking at them gives me the creeps."

Just then, Zeng Dalou walked over. "What are you all talking about?"

Fan Xingjia repeated Cai Zhao's question. Zeng Dalou smiled, then lowered his voice with a mysterious expression. "As the Sect Master of the head of the Six Sects, Master can't just have forces on the table; he needs some hidden cards under it too."

Seeing the girl blinking her big eyes, seemingly half-understanding, Zeng Dalou added, "Back in the day, Old Sect Master Yin kept many capable and unusual individuals under his command. Master has far fewer than that."

Chang Ning turned his face away and gave a faint, sarcastic smile.

Cai Zhao asked, "Eldest Martial Brother, did you know long ago that Master kept men outside the sect?"

Zeng Dalou was taken aback and said with a blush, "I only found out recently. Alas, my martial arts skills are poor. Master was probably afraid I'd be put at risk."

Cai Zhao said no more.

At that moment, Chang Ning suddenly pointed nearby. "And where did those people come from?"

They looked up and saw that Song Yuzhi was surrounded by a group of martial artists who had appeared out of nowhere. Each one had a vigilant expression and steady movements, and they were all dressed in brocade robes of vermilion embroidered with a golden rising sun.

Zeng Dalou sighed and said, "Those are men from the Vast Heaven Sect. Sect Leader Song already knows about Yuzhi's injury. He sent a letter saying that for fear of another sneak attack from the Demonic Cult, he will first arrange the Vast Heaven Sect's defensive formation before coming over, which will likely take a few more days. These guards were sent ahead for Yuzhi to command."

"Command?" Chang Ning's tone was rather playful.

Zeng Dalou was also vexed. He sighed, "I think Sect Leader Song is displeased. Alas, why must it be like this? Although Yuzhi's skills have been damaged, the Qingque Sect would never let any harm come to him again. Why was it necessary to send men from the Vast Heaven Sect?"

After speaking, he shook his head and walked away.

Only after Eldest Martial Brother was a good distance away did Fan Xingjia dare to speak. "If I were Sect Leader Song, I'd be angry too. He has three sons, and Third Senior Brother is the most promising. Big Brother Xiuzhi's aptitude is average, and Big Brother Maozhi's temper... alas, no need to even mention it. And now this. He entrusted his most talented son to the sect, and as a result, his martial arts might be completely crippled. I bet when Sect Leader Song comes this time, he's definitely going to have a huge fight with Master!"

Chang Ning was clearly gloating, but his face wore a very sincere smile. "Swords and blades are merciless. It's not like the sect intended for Young Hero Song to be injured. Let's hope Sect Leader Song doesn't develop a rift with Sect Master Qi."

Fan Xingjia was quite moved. "I hope it's just as Big Brother Chang says."

They finally returned to the Qingjing Study. By now, the sky was bright.

Before leaving, Fan Xingjia kindly consoled her, "Junior Sister, don't worry too much. Perhaps your esteemed father really did encounter something extremely urgent that required him to leave in a hurry. Just wait for a while, Junior Sister. Master will surely have an explanation."

Cai Zhao responded with silence. Chang Ning, on the other hand, smilingly thanked Fan Xingjia for his concern and then eagerly saw him out the door.

Once inside, Chang Ning's smile immediately vanished. "Zhaozhao, let's rest well during the day and build up our energy. Around dusk, when everyone has gone for their meal, we'll go down the mountain."

Cai Zhao seemed not to understand. "Go down the mountain? Didn't we just come up? The inn has already been turned upside down. I doubt there are any more clues. What's the point of going down?"

Seeing the girl's naive and innocent expression, Chang Ning grew more anxious. "Haven't you noticed? Something's not right with the sect. I have a bad feeling. It's best we leave as soon as possible. Once we're outside, we can slowly investigate your father's whereabouts."

But Cai Zhao was unmoved. She slowly sat down and poured herself a cup of cold tea. "Didn't you hear them? My dad might have left on his own for some important business."

Chang Ning looked at the girl for a moment. "Are you on guard against me?"

Cai Zhao met his gaze silently.

Chang Ning was the first to back down, sighing, "Don't be on guard against me. I would never harm you, nor would I harm your family."

Cai Zhao slowly turned her head back. "You're right. I can't be suspicious of everyone."

She added, "Then tell me, do you also think my dad left on his own?"

Chang Ning scoffed, "If Valley Master Cai left on his own, then who cleaned the entire room?"

A faint smile appeared at the corners of Cai Zhao's mouth. "It seems this person is a fool. If they wanted people to believe my dad left on his own, they should have left behind a half-slept-in bed and a half-drunk cup of tea. Making it so clean only arouses suspicion."

Chang Ning raised a long eyebrow. "What are you trying to say?"

Cai Zhao spoke very slowly, "Usually, I'm the one listening to you. This time, I'll have to trouble Young Master Chang to listen to me."

Chang Ning arched an eyebrow. "I'm all ears."

Cai Zhao set down her teacup. "First, I absolutely do not believe my dad encountered some extremely urgent matter and left on his own. In my family, only my aunt's heart is entirely fiery. My mom's is maybe half-fiery. My dad's is probably only two or three-tenths fiery, reserved only for his closest relatives and a few old friends."

"My mom and Xiao Yao are currently hiding in a safe place, and I am at the Qingque Sect. Our whole family is accounted for, so my dad has no truly urgent matters. Extremely urgent? Hmph, even if the Jianghu were turned upside down and Falling Blossoms Valley were burned to the ground, my dad wouldn't get anxious. To say something you might not like to hear, even if someone tried to lure him with clues about the Chang Family massacre, Dad would never leave without a single word to me."

Chang Ning was quite startled. His thoughts shifted. "So, Valley Master Cai did indeed meet with misfortune!"

"Is there anyone in this world who could capture my dad without him putting up a fight?" Cai Zhao retorted.

Chang Ning immediately denied it. "I've witnessed your esteemed father's skill. I wouldn't say he has reached the realm of transformation, but he already has few rivals in the world. In a duel between experts, it's not difficult to kill or injure, but to render your father incapable of even a single strike—even a reborn Nie Hengcheng couldn't do it."

"Right, that's what I thought too." Cai Zhao gazed at the rays of sunlight filtering through the crack in the window.

Chang Ning continued, "Then there's only one possibility. The person was someone your father was very familiar with, or even trusted, who caught him off guard and succeeded in one blow." He glanced at the girl and said sourly, "But someone your dad is familiar with must be someone you're familiar with too. I was afraid that if I said the wrong thing, you'd get angry with me, so I didn't mention it."

Cai Zhao glanced over. "Who did you want to mention?"

"I paid close attention during the two days of the ceremony. Your dad was indifferent to everyone, even showing more respect than intimacy toward Sect Master Qi. Only with Manor Master Zhou did he treat him as an older brother from the bottom of his heart." Chang Ning said it all in one breath.

Cai Zhao thought for a moment. "That's natural. My dad grew up in Peiqiong Mountain Manor and truly sees Uncle Zhou as an older brother. But isn't Uncle Zhou seriously injured?"

"If you didn't see it with your own eyes, it could have been a diversion."

Cai Zhao smiled and changed the subject. "Did you smell a very, very faint fragrance in Room Heaven One?"

Chang Ning frowned.

"Falling Blossoms Valley is full of flowers and leaves. My mom loves making and blending incense, so I've been used to it since I was little," Cai Zhao said. "That fragrance was so faint it was almost not there. It even took me a long time to notice it. Perhaps it didn't have to be someone my dad was familiar with and trusted. It could have just been an acquaintance who secretly released some knockout drug while talking to my dad, and then captured him."

"But my dad must have realized it at the last moment. Before he passed out, he must have knocked over the teapot, the warmer, the brazier, or something, making a mess of the room. That's why those people had no choice but to completely clean the entire room. And because they were afraid of complications arising from delay and were in a hurry to silence him, they didn't think to create signs that my dad had been resting there."

Chang Ning was skeptical but smiled. "You say it as if you saw it with your own eyes."

"Not only did my dad know that group of people, but the innkeeper must have known them too," Cai Zhao added.

Chang Ning detected something unusual in the girl's tone and said solemnly, "What did you notice?"

Cai Zhao: "Did you notice the wall behind the innkeeper? There used to be many bamboo plaques hanging there with red strings."

Chang Ning recalled the scene upon entering the inn yesterday; that was indeed the case.

Cai Zhao: "Those are things used for running an inn. The name of each guest room is written on a small bamboo plaque, and then they're hung on the wall. When a room is rented out or booked, the plaque for that room is flipped over, so it's clear how many empty rooms are left."

Chang Ning suddenly had a thought. "Yesterday, the plaque for the room your dad was staying in wasn't flipped over. Could there be a hidden meaning?" He clearly remembered the innkeeper pointing to Room Heaven One.

"No, that's just because the innkeeper was lazy."

Chang Ning: ...

"These bamboo plaques need to be aired out, then dried in the shade, then oiled, then dried in the shade again... This way, when they hang on the wall, exposed daily to the smell of wine and the comings and goings of people, they won't easily grow mold. More particular innkeepers will even have several cycles of airing, drying, and oiling," Cai Zhao explained as if she were an expert.

Chang Ning smiled. "How do you know so much?"

"Because when I was eight, I vowed to open an inn in the future."

"Didn't you want to open a restaurant when you were little?" It wasn't that Chang Ning was trying to argue, he just couldn't help himself.

"Opening a restaurant was an idea I had when I was six. Later, I realized an inn provides both food and lodging, so opening an inn is better." Cai Zhao answered very seriously.

Chang Ning: ...

"Bamboo plaques made this way are not easily damaged," Cai Zhao said.

Chang Ning recalled how the girl had been burning the bamboo plaques just now, and a flash of inspiration struck him. "It's the brazier? Did you find a clue on the bamboo plaques on the floor?"

Cai Zhao tilted her head slightly, as if recalling something. "When we went in, the brazier was already cold. It had been burning for half the night, and everything inside was gone. But I could still see a small, charred piece of bamboo mixed in with the charcoal ash."

She tapped the table lightly. "I think the innkeeper threw it into the brazier before he died."

Chang Ning held his breath slightly as he listened.

Cai Zhao continued on her own, "I've stayed at that inn before, so I remember some things—the whole inn has about twenty-something rooms, with room numbers based on the eleven characters: Heaven, Earth, Black, Yellow, Sun, Moon, Qian, Kun, plus Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity."

"The innkeeper was very willful and arranged the room numbers as he pleased. There were three Heaven rooms, but only one Earth room. Black and Yellow each had two rooms. There were five Kun rooms, but only one Qian room, which was used for storage."

"Just now, I was afraid of attracting attention, so I pretended to be warming myself and burned the bamboo plaques on the floor one by one. After they were all burned—" Her eyes lit up. "I found that one bamboo plaque was indeed missing."

Chang Ning grew tense. "Which one was it?"

"Room Moon Three."

A faint blush appeared on the girl's pale, pretty face. "I remember it clearly. Although that innkeeper arranged the room numbers haphazardly, he never skipped any numbers. Room Moon One, Room Moon Two, and Room Moon Four were all there. Only the plaque for Room Moon Three was gone—the innkeeper threw it into the brazier himself."

"Room Moon Three?" Chang Ning was perplexed. "What does that mean?"

Cai Zhao dipped her finger in the cold tea in her cup and wrote the character 'three' (三) on the table, and below it, she wrote the character 'moon' (月).

Chang Ning: "March? Is someone's name or birthday related to March? Ah... the innkeeper's bloody character..." He got it!

Cai Zhao looked him in the eye and nodded. "It's the vertical stroke the innkeeper drew on the floor."

Then, right in the middle of the character 'three' (三), she drew a short, heavy vertical stroke.

—It was the character 'Qing' (青)!

A gloomy and fierce aura emanated from between Chang Ning's brows. "So, it was someone from the Qingque Sect."

Cai Zhao watched the fine dust dancing in the light and said slowly, "Do you remember what that idiot Dai Fengchi said this morning? He said my dad was discovered by the waiter, and to silence him, he killed his way out from the doorway."

"Actually, he was half right. There was indeed a trail of killing starting from the doorway of Room Heaven One. But it wasn't my dad. It was the real murderer."

"Not long after we left yesterday, the sky turned dark. My dad once told me that he could see the innkeeper had suffered a severe internal injury in his youth, which made him especially afraid of the cold. He had to light a fire to keep warm every night. Last night, I think he did the same, lighting the brazier early."

"Around midnight, the innkeeper saw only two small pieces of charcoal left in the basket. Guessing it was about time, he planned to go back to his room to sleep. Just then, a guest suddenly arrived—the visitor was from the sect, someone the innkeeper knew, so he had to force himself to entertain them. That person..." Cai Zhao shook her head. "No, it was those people. He definitely had helpers."

"That person left his subordinates in the main hall and went upstairs to see my dad himself. Because he was afraid of arousing my dad's suspicion, he couldn't kill the innkeeper and the waiter beforehand."

"When that person was launching a sneak attack on my dad in the room, he made a noise. A waiter ran upstairs to check, and the person's subordinate chased after and subdued him. At that moment, the person pushed the door open, and right there at the doorway, face to face, he ripped out the waiter's heart!"

Chang Ning came to a realization. "So that's why the wounds on the corpses were all slightly slanted."

"Right." Cai Zhao said, "The power of the 'Plucking Flower and Picking Leaf' technique lies in its ability to accurately pluck out a person's heart and liver even in the midst of a fierce battle. But if the waiter and the innkeeper were restrained, then as long as one's hand technique is ruthless enough, one can break through the chest and dig out the heart. Martial Uncle Chen's Great Compassion Hand and Martial Uncle Ouyang's Vajra Finger can both achieve that."

"The innkeeper had once crawled out from a pile of corpses to survive. The moment he saw the waiter on the second floor killed, he immediately understood that he couldn't escape either. So, while those people weren't paying attention, he first took down the 'Room Moon Three' plaque and threw it into the brazier. Then, during the struggle, he knocked over and scattered the counter, the ink and brushes, the account books, and all the bamboo plaques on the wall..."

"They killed the waiter, killed the cook who came upon hearing the commotion, and finally subdued the innkeeper. They did the same thing: broke his four limbs and then ripped his heart out from the front—or maybe the other way around. With his last breath, the innkeeper drew a short vertical stroke on the ground. Those people didn't understand its meaning and thought he was just scratching randomly in unbearable pain before death, so they paid no mind."

"I'm finished."

Cai Zhao slowly stood up, her gaze calm yet firm. "So, I will not leave Jiuli Mountain. You don't need to persuade me. I know what I have to do."

Of course, she could flee all the way back to Falling Blossoms Valley, then cry out for help from all directions, and wait for news in safety.

But she couldn't.

When Cai Pingshu was fifteen, her name was already known throughout the world.

When she was fifteen, she only wanted to protect her family.

Before today, all the decisions in her life had been made for her by her parents and her aunt.

This was the first time in her life she had chosen a path for herself.

"Aunt would have approved of me." She lifted her young face as if looking at the sky. "Aunt will watch over me from heaven."